Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Pennsylvania
Chefs and Head Cooks in Pennsylvania earn a median of $63,860 a year ($30.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,830 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 1.5 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $67,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| 25th percentile | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Median | $63,860 | $30.70 |
| 75th percentile | $81,790 | $39.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,830 | $46.07 |
| Average (mean) | $67,890 | $32.64 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,321.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,660.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,456.15 |
| Weekly | $1,228.08 |
| Hourly | $30.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA | $66,980 | 210 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $66,320 | 1,340 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65,680 | 5,700 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $63,220 | 570 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $60,750 | 450 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $59,950 | 50 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $59,690 | 400 |
| State College, PA | $58,560 | 120 |
| Lancaster, PA | $58,040 | 280 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $56,860 | 160 |
| Johnstown, PA | $56,440 | 70 |
| Lebanon, PA | $52,870 | 70 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $52,000 | 50 |
| Erie, PA | $51,340 | 150 |
| Altoona, PA | $49,040 | 60 |
| Williamsport, PA | $47,840 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Bartender | $28,420 | $13.66 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Dishwasher | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $19,910 | $9.57 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,040 | $15.89 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Pennsylvania is $63,860 a year, or $30.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Pennsylvania earn at least $95,830 a year. The top 25% earn $81,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,040 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $49,280 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Pennsylvania?
About 9,170 chefs and head cooks are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.